Track Belt and a Track Assembly

Abstract

A track belt comprises a bearing element (10) having an inner surface (12), an outer surface (14) and a width. On the inner surface, a guide element (16) extends in the longitudinal direction of the track belt, comprising a first edge protrusion (20a) and a second edge protrusion (20b). The width of the guide element is substantially smaller than the width of the bearing element. The track belt comprises a first guide groove (18a) having a first flank surface (22a) formed by the first edge protrusion, and a second guide groove (18b) having a first flank surface formed by the second edge protrusion. The first flank surfaces of the edge protrusions are uniform and continuous substantially over the entire length of the guide element. Preferably, the guide element comprises a traction surface (24) parallel to the inner surface of the bearing element, having engaging members (25) for receiving the engaging parts of the drive wheel.

Claims

1. A track belt (50) comprising a bearing element (10), the bearing element (10) having an inner surface (12), an outer surface (14), and a width, a guide element (16) in the longitudinal direction of the track belt (50) in the inner surface of the bearing element (10), the guide element (16) comprising a first edge protrusion (20a) and a second edge protrusion (20b), and the guide element (16) having a width substantially smaller than the width of the bearing element (10), and the track belt (50) comprising a first guide groove (18a) with a first flank surface (22a) formed by the first edge protrusion (20a), and a second guide groove (18a) with a first flank surface (22a) formed by the second edge protrusion (20b), characterized in that the first flank surfaces (22) of the edge protrusions (22a, 22b) are uniform and continuous substantially over the entire length of the guide element (16).

2. The track belt (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the guide element (16) is less than 50% of the width of the bearing element (10), preferably less than 40% of the width of the bearing element (10), most preferably less than 30% of the width of the bearing element (10).

3. The track belt (50) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second guide grooves (18a, 18b) are provided with a second flank surface (22b) formed by the inner surface (12) of the bearing element (10).

4. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide element (16) is an element that sustains tensile load and is substantially inextensible at normal loading of the track belt (50).

5. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide element (16) comprises at least one reinforcing element for improving the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction of the guide element (10).

6. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide element comprises a traction surface (24) extending substantially in parallel with the inner surface (12) of the bearing element (10) and comprising engaging members (26) for receiving the engaging parts of the drive wheel.

7. The track belt (50) according to claim 6, characterized in that the traction surface (24) comprises bending grooves (27) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide element (16), at substantially regular intervals over the entire length of the guide element (16).

8. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bearing element (10) comprises folds (30) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track belt (50), over the entire length of the track belt (50).

9. The track belt (50) according to claim 8, characterized in that the depth of the folds (30) is smaller in the middle portion of the track belt (50) than at the edges of the track belt (50).

10. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is an endless annular component.

11. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bearing element (10) and the guide element are separate components fastened to each other.

12. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is a track belt (50) for a tracked vehicle (100), such as a snow mobile.

13. The track belt (50) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is a conveyor belt for a belt conveyor.

14. A track assembly comprising an endless track belt (50) and steering members (40) movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track belt, for applying a force to the track belt (50), characterized in that said track belt (50) is a track belt defined in any of the claims 1 to 13.

15. A track assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that said steering members (40) comprise at least one slide piece (34) arranged in a first guide groove (18a) of the track belt (50), and at least one slide piece (34) arranged in a second guide groove (18b) of the track belt (50).

16. A track assembly according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said steering members (40) further comprise at least one guide wheel (32) arranged on a first side of a first edge protrusion (20a) of the guide element (16) of the track belt (50), and at least one guide wheel (32) arranged on a first side of a second edge protrusion (20b) of the guide element (16).

17. The track assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said guide wheels (32) comprise a bottom surface fitted to abut against the free edge of the edge protrusions (20a, 20b).

18. The track assembly according to any of the claims 14 to 17, characterized in that it comprises a first reverse roll (36) and a second reverse roll (38), the track belt (50) being configured to turn around said first and second reverse rolls (36, 38), and said steering members (40) are arranged in the track belt (50) portion between the first and second reverse rolls (36, 38).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, the invention will be described in detail. In the description, reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which

[0023] FIG. 1a shows, by way of an example, a vehicle equipped with a track belt according to the invention, seen from the side,

[0024] FIG. 1b shows the vehicle of FIG. 1a seen diagonally from below,

[0025] FIG. 2a shows, by way of an example, a track belt according to the invention in a cross-sectional view,

[0026] FIG. 2b shows, by way of an example, a track belt portion according to the invention seen diagonally from above,

[0027] FIG. 2c shows, by way of an example, a curved track belt portion according to the invention, seen diagonally from above,

[0028] FIG. 3a shows, by way of an example, steering members for the track belt according to the invention, seen from the front,

[0029] FIG. 3b shows the steering members for the track belt of FIG. 3a, seen from the side, and

[0030] FIG. 3c shows the steering members for the track belt of FIGS. 3a and 3b, seen diagonally from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1a shows, by way of an example, a vehicle 100 equipped with a track belt 50 according to the invention seen from the side, and FIG. 1b shows the same vehicle seen diagonally from below. In the following, both figures will be described at the same time.

[0032] The vehicle shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is a snow mobile whose frame is equipped with a track assembly comprising two parallel drive tracks. Both tracks of the track assembly comprise a first reverse roll 36, a second reverse roll 38, and an endless track belt 50 turned around the reverse rolls. Furthermore, the track assembly comprises a drive wheel not shown in the figure, powered by the motor of the vehicle, for subjecting the track belt to a force rotating the track belt. Steering members 40 are provided between the reverse rolls, for subjecting the track belt to a force in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track, whereby the track belt is curved; in other words, the track belt is offset by the steering members in the lateral direction from the straight line between the first and second reverse rolls. By changing the curvature of the track belt, the snow mobile can be made to turn and move in a desired travel direction. By the steering members, a force making the track belt curve is applied primarily to the lower part of the track belt, placed against the ground to be traveled on, because this part of the track belt has an effect to the travel direction of the vehicle. The upper part of the track belt may be curved to a lesser extent than the lower part of the track belt, or it may even be substantially straight, wherein it extends the distance between the first and second reverse rolls along a straight line. The snow mobile shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b comprises two parallel tracks. It is not necessary to have two tracks but the vehicle may also be implemented with a single track.

[0033] FIG. 2a shows, by way of an example, a track belt 50 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 2b shows part of the track belt of FIG. 2a in a diagonal view from above. The track belt comprises an endless belt-like bearing element 10 having an inner surface 12 and an outer surface 14. The outer surface of the track belt is the surface placed against the ground when the vehicle equipped with the track belt is moving. The inner surface of the track belt, in turn, is the surface which remains surrounded by the outer surface in an endless annular track belt. The bearing element has a folded shape; in other words, it has parallel groove-like folds 30 over the entire length of the track belt so that every other fold opens in the direction of the inner surface and every other fold opens in the direction of the outer surface. The folds extend from the first edge 13 of the track belt to the second edge 15 of the track belt, i.e. over the whole width of the track belt. The width of the track belt may be suitably selected according to the dimensions of the vehicle. Preferably, the width of the track belt is 280 mm to 800 mm.

[0034] An elongated guide element 16 is provided on the inner surface 12 of the bearing element 10 of the track belt 50, extending, on the inner surface, over the whole length of the track belt. The guide element is placed in the centre of the bearing element in the cross direction of the track belt; that is, the distance between the guide element and the first edge 13 of the bearing element is equal to the distance between the guide element and the second edge 15. At the guide element, the inner surface of the bearing element is provided with a recess having a width substantially equal to the width of the bearing element, and a depth about one third of the total thickness of the bearing element.

[0035] The guide element is provided with a first edge protrusion 20a at the first edge and a second edge protrusion 20b at the second edge so that the edge protrusions point away from each other, pointing slightly upwards from the inner surface 12 of the bearing element 10. The surface of the edge protrusions on the side of the inner surface of the bearing element is spaced from the inner surface. The guide element is provided with a first guide groove 18a on the first side and a second guide groove 18b on the second side so that the surface of the edge protrusion 20a, 20b on the side of the inner surface of the bearing element constitutes a first flank surface 22a of the guide groove, and the inner surface of the bearing element constitutes a second flank surface 22b of the guide groove. The width of the guide element, i.e. the shortest distance between the free edges of the edge protrusions, is about 30 to 50% of the width of the bearing element.

[0036] In the portion between the free edges of the edge protrusions 20a, 20b of the guide element 16, a traction surface 24 is provided which is equipped with engaging members 26 in the form of engaging holes at regular intervals in two rows, for receiving the engaging parts of the drive wheel. The force for rotating the track belt is applied from the drive wheel via the engaging members to the guide element. Instead of the engaging holes, the engaging elements may be engaging hollows or engaging protrusions compatible with the engaging members of the drive wheel. The guide element is an element that sustains a tensile load and is substantially inextensible at normal loading of the track belt. The surface of the traction surface 24 is provided with bending grooves 27 at regular intervals, facilitating the bending of the guide element into a curve when it passes around the reverse roll 36, 38. The guide element and the bearing element may be made of the same material, or they may be parts made of different materials and connected to each other by mortise and tenon joints. Preferably, the guide element is made of plastic and the bearing element is made of plastic or rubber.

[0037] FIG. 2c shows, by way of an example, a piece of a track belt 50 according to the invention in a diagonal view from above. The piece of the track belt shown in the figure has been bent to a curve by subjecting the guide element 16 of the track belt to a force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track belt, as will be described hereinbelow. In this context, the curved shape of the track belt means that the central part and the ends of the track belt are substantially on the same height level, but the central part is not on the same straight line with the ends of the track belt. As the track belt is curved, the length of its guide element is not changed but the second edge 15 closer to the centre of curvature of the bearing element 10 becomes shorter, and the first edge 13 farther from the centre of curvature becomes longer. The folded shape of the bearing part allows for changes in the length of the edges of the bearing element so that when the edges of the bearing element become shorter and longer, the folds 30 become narrower and are opened, respectively. The folds in the track belt also enable the turning of the track belt around a curved surface, such as the driving reverse roll. In the track belt being turned around a reverse roll or a roller, the folds in the bearing element are opened, which enables the stretching of the bearing element when it travels across the reverse roll.

[0038] FIG. 3a shows, by way of an example, part of the steering members for a track belt 50 belonging to a track assembly according to the invention, in a front view; FIG. 3b shows it in a side view, and FIG. 3c shows it in a diagonal view from above. In the following; all the figures will be described at the same time. The steering members for the track belt according to the invention comprise an elongated beam 42 with a central through sleeve 43 for receiving a steering arm not shown in the figure. By means of the steering arm, a force is applied to the beam in the longitudinal direction of the hole in the sleeve; i.e. in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the beam. On both sides of the beam, two pairs of fastening pins 37 are provided so that the first pair of fastening pins is placed close to the first end of the beam, and the second pair of fastening pins close to the second end of the beam. Two supporting elements 48 are fastened to the fastening pins, one on each side of the beam 42 so that the ends of the supporting elements are fastened to the ends of the fastening pins. The supporting element is provided with a protruding slide piece 34 (FIG. 3a) which extends into the guide groove 18a, 18b of the track belt 50. A guide wheel 32 rotatable about an axle journal is mounted to the central part of the supporting element, having a cylindrical bottom part and a flange part protruding from one edge of the bottom part. The flange part is placed on the side of the edge protrusion 20a, 20b of the guide element 16 facing the traction surface 24 so that the flange part and the slide piece constitute a gap, in which the edge protrusion of the guide element is received. On the first side of the beam 42, two gaps are formed by the flange part of the guide wheel 32 and the slide piece 34, bordering the first edge protrusion 20a, and similarly, two gaps are formed on the second side of the beam by the flange part of the guide wheel 32 and the slide piece 34, bordering the second edge protrusion 20b (FIG. 3a). The cylindrical bottom part of the guide wheel engages the free edge of the edge protrusion. When the beam is moved in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track belt, the bottom part of the guide wheel applies a force to the free edge of the edge protrusion, bending the track belt into a curve. The flange part of the guide wheel and the slide piece secure that the free edge of the edge protrusion remains in constant contact with the guide wheel.

[0039] The track belt and the track assembly according to the invention are particularly suitable for use in tracked vehicles and means of transport. Furthermore, it is feasible that the track belt could be used as a conveyor belt for a belt conveyor, which could be configured to travel along a curved path, if needed.

[0040] Some advantageous embodiments of the track belt and the track assembly according to the invention have been described above. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea can be applied in different ways within the scope of the claims.